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Baxters both in top 25 at World Championship
Slalom
Both Alain and Noel Baxter attacked the Stelvio course on the last
day of the World Alpine Skiing Championships and were rewarded with
encouraging results. Alain equalling the result he scored four years
ago in St Anton with 16th place, Noel making 21st and James Leuzinger
finishing in 24th.
The soft snow conditions made it treacherous on the first run and
all three British racers defied the odds to make it down. “I made
a few mistakes on the first run,” commented Alain Baxter after he
had qualified for the second run in 30th place. Running first for
the second run gave Alain a clear course on which to attack. “My
second run felt fast,” reflected Alain “but as soon as I saw Aamodt
beat my time I knew that it was not going to be good enough.” With
the conditions worsening on the second run Baxter’s time held in
there and whilst happy Baxter rued what could have been a better
day.
Judges decision
For Noel Baxter, there was a period when he was sitting in 30th
place after the first run. With his brother just in front of him,
it was galling for him to be bumped down to 32. “I am starting to
ski better but it was tough. My first run was not so good but the
second was better,” rued the younger Baxter. Noel, with this result
made his best World Championship result.
Worse was to follow though
as his result was held provisionally for over an hour as the authorities
tried to disqualify him. Baxter’s coach, Christian Schwaiger, spoke
with the jury for over an hour before TV evidence was found that
showed his innocence. “Noel always skis with his lower hand down
and they thought this was because his ski had caught the gate,”
Schwaiger explained afterwards.
The British Team has now returned home for rest and will start preparing
for the remaining World Cup races and then the British Championships
in March in Meribel.
1 Benni Raich (Aut)
2 Rainer Schoenfelder (Aut)
3 Giorgio Rocca (Ita)
16 Alain Baxter (GBR)
21 Noel Baxter (GBR)
24 James Leuzinger (GBR)
[Source: Neil McQuoid]
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